The Last Green Valley, River, Roads, and History of CT

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

Overview: Join us as we cycle through the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, an undeveloped rural area half the size of the Grand Canyon in eastern Connecticut. Flying over this area in an airplane at night would show mostly darkness below. By day we will experience lightly traveled, well maintained, sometimes hilly roads surrounded by forests, farms, stone walls, and glacial erratics. We will spend a weekend in vibrant, marine-themed Mystic. Cycling east along Long Island Sound, enjoy the expansive views and beaches, then arrive in Essex for two nights at the famous Griswold Inn, opened in June 1776 (it is one month older than the United States). Visit the homesteads of Mark Twain, Katherine Hepburn, Chief Uncas, Benedict Arnold (and many more) historical figures. Follow the Connecticut River that flows within a rift created by geologic forces that ripped the earth apart.  

             Day 1 (Sunday) is optional. We will explore the state capital, Hartford, and discover how it went from the world capital of gun manufacturing (Colt, the gun that won the west, circa 1850) to the world capital of bicycle manufacturing (Albert Pope/Columbia bicycles, circa 1900). We pass several museums, the homes of Mark Twain Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Samuel and Elizabeth Colt. We have arranged for tours of the Soldiers and Sailers Arch in Bushnell Park, the first municipal park in the nation to be conceived, built and paid for by citizens through a popular vote (1854).

            Day 2, the first required day, takes us to the Hilton on the campus of storied University of Connecticut. We are now officially inside the Last Green Valley. We will emerge from the forest onto the campus and be back in the forest just as quickly the next morning.

            On Day 3 we continue east and a little north to Woodstock. The hills will be getting longer and the traffic will become almost nil. We bike by the Tree House Brewery just 1.7 miles from our stop for two nights, the Inn At Woodstock Hill, a unique inn set in bucolic surroundings.

             Day 4 is an optional ride day and we will offer two routes. We are now deep into the heart of the Last Green Valley. The cycling is exquisite here!

             Day 5 takes us to Norwich, founded on land granted to colonists by Mohegan Sachem Uncas in 1659. Benedict Arnold was born here in 1741. Forty years later, Arnold, one of George Washington’s best and most trusted generals, will lead a British force and burn the towns of Groton and New London less than 15 miles from his homestead.

            On Day 6 we tour through Groton, home to Fort Griswold and the United States Submarine Museum. We spend a Friday and Saturday night in Mystic, an exciting destination offering a blend of history, marine life, quaint village charm, and coastal beauty. You will be fully aware that we have left the Last Green Valley.

           Day 7 is an optional day and again we will offer a 2A, 2B, and a 3C loop. Suggestions will include Mason’s Island, Mystic Seaport Museum, Stonington, and a foray back into the Last Green Valley.

            Day 8 travels along the shoreline crossing the Thames River to New London (with the newly-opened U.S. Coast Guard Museum), over the Niantic River Draw Bridge, and eventually over the Connecticut River to Essex. The British burned the Essex ships and shipbuilders here in 1814. Fortunately they did not burn the town. Our lodging, the Griswold Inn (the "Griz" for short), was established in June, 1776.

             Day 9 is our final optional day. The 2B ride passes through Fenwick Island, the summer home of Katherine Hepburn. The 3C ride will head back across the Connecticut River to find some hills. The Griz taproom, voted the best bar in Connecticut, has Sea Chanty Night every Monday night. Yo Ho!

             On day 10 we strike north along the Connecticut River and cross by ferry. Gillette Castle, built by the eponymous actor in 1914, is high on a cliff on the eastern bank. We cross back over the river on the East Haddam Swing Bridge and turn north to Middletown.

           Day 11, our final day, we quickly cross the river into Portland and cycle by Brownstone Adventure Park where the stone for the Soldiers and Sailors Arch in Hartford (remember day 1?) was quarried in 1886. We cross again by ferry to Rocky Hill on the oldest continually-operating ferry in the nation. We stop in at Dinosaur State Park, cycle by the Rocky Hill glacial morraine that changed the course of the Connecticut River, loop through Old Wethersfield, and cross one last time to Glastonbury.

Health and Safety: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned. 

Ride Rating is 2B(!):  There are seven required riding days.  Of the seven required days; three are rated 2A, three are rated 2B, and one is rated 3B. There are hills every day that are challenging but not insane. Two days have very short, brief moments above eight and up to to eleven percent. For strong cyclists looking for more of a challenge, we intend to offer longer, hillier rides every day.

          There will be no sag service except for emergencies. We will be renting a cargo van to transport luggage which has limited passenger space.

         The Last Green Valley, also called the “Quiet Corner” is rural and there will be long distances between restaurants or stores. We will note this during route discussion the night before.

         There are sections of dirt road; most are very short. Exceptions include two miles of dirt on the Airline Bike Trail. There is a half mile long dirt driveway to get to the Tree House Brewery (optional). There is 2.6 miles of dirt approaching Middletown. All of the dirt is very ridable. Additionally, we will ride on a half mile, raised wooden-plank bike trail along the Poquonock River (twice).

         There are some notable bridge crossings, three on the same day; The Gold Star Memorial Bridge from Groton to New London is quite high and exposed for a half mile on separated sidewalk; the Niantic River Draw Bridge is lower and shorter, but still exposed on curbed sidewalk or a three foot wide shoulder; and the Baldwin Bridge from Old Lyme to Old Saybrook is high and exposed for one half mile on separated sidewalk. On other days we will cross the Putnam Bridge from Wethersfield to Glastonbury on separated sidewalk (twice), the East Haddam swing bridge which has a section of metal grate, and the Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown on separated sidewalk. We have cycled over all of these bridges without problem.

          There is a one-tenth mile lighted dirt tunnel (the Airline Bike Trail).

          We will cross the river twice on ferries.

          While many of the roads we will be on are quiet and deserted, please note that also we will be riding in cities with the requisite hazards: curb cuts, parked and moving vehicles, sidewalks, pedestrians, storm drains, intersections, and the like.

Weather: The weather can be warm or cool, as well as wet or dry. The average high temperature in May is 67°F (highest recorded is in the nineties). The average low temperature is 48°F (lowest recorded is in the twenties). Monthly precipitation is 3.5”. Please have rain and cool weather cycling gear as well as sunscreen lotion and sunglasses.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: Accurate cue sheets and maps will be made available on Ride With GPS a few weeks before the tour. All routes will be scouted by bicycle.

Lodging, Meals, & Happy/Social Hour: Twelve nights of lodging is in well known, modern hotels or historic, restored hotels. Eight dinners are provided and participants must fend for themselves on four nights. All breakfasts are included. Lunches are rider responsibility.  There will be a recap/route rap/happy hour every night with light snacks, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.

          Arrangements for inside or covered bike storage are available in all except for two nights in Mystic. Please bring a bike lock and we will cover the bikes with tarps on those nights.

Logistics: Arrive on Saturday, May 15 in Glastonbury, CT. The tour begins at 5:00 PM with a social hour at at Homewood Suites by Hilton Hartford South-Glastonbury, 65 Glastonbury Blvd, Glastonbury, CT. It is a 27 minute drive from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks to the hotel. The hotel does not provide shuttle service. Uber/Lyft/taxi service is conveniently available at the airport. Parking and bike box storage for the duration of the trip is available at the hotel at no extra cost.

       We will stay the first two nights in Glastonbury, one night at the Graduate by Hilton in Storrs, two nights at The Inn At Woodstock Hill in Woodstock, one night in Norwich, two nights in Mystic, two nights in historic Essex, one night in Middletown, and finish at our starting hotel in Glastonbury. The tour ends after breakfast on Thursday, May 27, 2027 at the same hotel.

          There is a bicycle shop in Glastonbury, Bicycles East, a mile and a half from our hotel. Limited rentals are available from Central Wheel in Farmington, 13 miles away.  The leaders have no first-hand experience with any local rentals.  All rental bike transactions are strictly between the member renting the bike and the commercial vendor providing the rental.

Our expectation is that many participants will arrive by car from various points around the U.S.  We have a fair amount of experience riding other areas in CT, particulary the Northwest corner and Rhode Island.  We will be happy to share routes and recommendations with those interested in adding on to the beginning or end of this tour.

Tandems and E-bikes: We welcome tandem riders and those who wish to ride e-bikes.

Cost: The estimated tour cost is $3450 per person plus the $85 non-refundable BAC ride fee.  This cost includes 12 nights lodging, eight group dinners, 12 breakfasts, 12 evening happy hours (beer, wine, soft drinks and light snacks), the cargo luggage van & emergency sag support; bike box storage; GPS files; ride directors' tour cost, and a contingency in the event of unanticipated expenses or emergencies.  It does not include: lunches or meals other than as stated above, any museum admissions, bike rental or airfare.

A deposit of $1500 is due within 7 days of being accepted onto the tour.  A second and final payment of $1950 is due by February 1st, 2027.   A solo single supplement is estimated to be an additional $1500.  The final payment and the solo supplement may be adjusted slightly up or down, depending on (1) the final number of ride participants, and (2) hotel costs, a number of which are currently estimated rather than firm contract rates. Single riders who are willing to share a room are encouraged, and we will assist with finding a roommate. Due to lodging constraints, rooms with two beds are limited at some locations.

Singles & Solos Policy:  A “single” is a member who signs up and wishes to share a room with another participant.  A “solo” is a member who signs up, does not wish to share a room, and pays the solo supplement of $1500.  Singles are welcome, but encouraged to find their own compatible roommates and/or riding partners.  After receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until Aug.1st, 2026 to find a roommate. If they are unable, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the solo supplement and stay on the ride. They may continue to seek a roommate but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. If a roommate is found, the solo supplement will be returned. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  Singles are limited to four rooms because of the smaller inn types on the tour.  Some of these rooms include one bed plus either a pullout couch or a rollaway bed.

The solo supplement of $1500 is due by Feb.1st, 2027 and can be paid by check or by Zelle.  

1.        Make checks payable to “BAC” and mail to Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193. 

2.        To pay using Zelle:

● In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email

address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org

● Initiate a payment

● In the Message block, enter the name of your ride, Eastern CT

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. 

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.